My chickens won't eat chicken feed

I have six chickens who are about 12 weeks old. They've been in their coop for 6 weeks and since that time they've been eating very little chicken feed. I've tried three different types of feed without them seeming to like any of them. I've not had to add food to their gravity feeder in the coop in weeks. They are in a run and get a certain amount of bugs I imagine, but it can possibly be enough. They do get some treats (lettuce, herbs, meal worms, grass, etc.). I've started to worry, because one in particular is smaller than the rest(an americauna). Also, along with this issue, I have a brahma who has become a feather picker. I separated her and gave her her own little feeder with the same food , and she simply doesn't eat it. In fact she's lost weight. So I let her out of her segregation despite her picking issues because I'm worried about her not eating . So in the last 2 days I decided to try mixing the feed with water and now they are eating like they were starved! For goodness sake! The food has been there all along!!! I don't want the continued added work of adding water, but it seems like certainly were not eating enough!!any ideas of what or how to feed them so they eat enough, but I don't have to continue to Mix up porridge for them!

The chicken that is picking feathers could be needing more protein in her diet. I would feed her a boiled egg everyday and see if that helps with her feather picking. My chickens won't eat just plain chicken food either I have to mix it with scratch or they won't touch it.

Wow! Some picky chickens!!!! Ok., I'll try more protien

Fill a 5 gallon bucket 3/4 full of feed and than fill to the top with water. Cover for a full day and than feed them out of that, its good for them to have the extra water in their food.

I bet they'd love that!!!'

One thing that comes to mind is that the feeder may make it hard for them to actually reach the feed (I had this happen once with the kind of baby chick feeder with little round holes in the lid: funny thing, once their heads were bigger than the holes, they didn't eat much of that feed!)

The other thing that comes to mind is that they may be getting all the feed they need elsewhere. They'd prefer cat food if they can get it, and if someone is leaving a big bowl of kibble within their reach, that'd work.

Robert

farmgirllvo said:

Fill a 5 gallon bucket 3/4 full of feed and than fill to the top with water. Cover for a full day and than feed them out of that, its good for them to have the extra water in their food.

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FF, there's a thread on "fermented feeding", great stuff & easy with alot of benefits! Always fed dry, last year I did FF with my new batch of chicks (from day one). I love it as they do too.

RobertPlamondon is correct with his statement about the feeders, as they get older those "holes" are too small. Notice my EEs out grow the feeder earlier due to their muffs/tuffs. I then switch to the trough (I do FF) with an elevated bottom & when they're grown, they use a plastic dog bowl.

They are picky when they can pick out & hold out for what they prefer

Omg!! You're probably right about the holes!!! I was using a chick feeder for the one in solitary confinement!!! That makes so much sense!!!

I use a big round, rubber tub for feeding. Nothing fancy. Not that much waste, either.

RobertPlamondon said:

One thing that comes to mind is that the feeder may make it hard for them to actually reach the feed (I had this happen once with the kind of baby chick feeder with little round holes in the lid: funny thing, once their heads were bigger than the holes, they didn't eat much of that feed!)

The other thing that comes to mind is that they may be getting all the feed they need elsewhere. They'd prefer cat food if they can get it, and if someone is leaving a big bowl of kibble within their reach, that'd work.

Robert

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Check if their feeder was in a available place...
Picky chickens....